The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) in partnership with Joy Business and The African Network of Entrepreneurs (TANOE) organised the Young Entrepreneurs Forum (YEF) at the Labadi Beach Hotel, Accra.

Themed, ‘Connect. Accelerate. Grow.’ the objective of the one-day forum was to share GIPC’s strategy for young entrepreneurs under the GIPC ACT 865, create an avenue for captains of industry to interact with young entrepreneurs and promote dialogue between this category of private sector and government of Ghana.

The event which was attended by over 300 businesses owned by young Ghanaian entrepreneurs featured a table top exhibition for 20 entrepreneurs to exhibit their products and services to participants at the event.

As part of the event, three invited speakers—Hamdiya Ismaila, General Manager, The Venture Capital Trust Fund; Mr Kwabena Opagya Amoateng, CEO of Agro Africa Ltd; and Mr Alex Bram, CEO of Hubtel—spoke on various aspects of partnerships, networking and how they were important intangible assets to a growing company.



Hundred participants were also selected to attend a one-hour mentoring session with leading business minds, including the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GIPC, Mr Yofi Grant. Others were Ms Ellen Hagan, CEO, L’AINE Services; Mr Dan McKorley, CEO, McDan Shipping; Ms Carol Annang, Managing Director, New Times Corporation; Ms Constance Swanikier, CEO, Accents & Art; and Aisha Ayensu, Creative Director/Founder, Christie Brown.

The rest were Mr Richard Adjei, Managing Director of Kasapreko Company Limited; Ms Lucy Quist, CEO of Airtel; Mr Joseph Aidoo, Executive Director of Devtraco Ltd; Curtis Vanderpuije, founder and CEO of expressPay; and Mr Kobina Hudson, owner of Sowgreen Organic Farms Ltd.



Speaking at the forum Mr Grant encouraged the participants to help make Ghana the best place to do business on the African continent. He noted that Ghana’s smart, educated youth were a rich dividend that continue to be the engine of innovation and growth for the country. “You are in the position to market the country. You have the dreams, drive, and determination to move this country even higher. It takes cooperation, partnerships to make great things happen,” he told the participants.

He emphasised that the Centre was created to support all types of investment in Ghana, domestic and foreign, saying “GIPC facilitates investments that helps our country forge ahead both local and international—it is important that Ghanaians invest in their country and we are here to help make sure that happens”.